We quickly left the city. Truthfully, I hadn't intended to bring Xenon along, but upon hearing I planned to visit the flower farm, he brightened and followed me out.
"I didn't know we'd be going to the Oel Flower Farm. It's one of the most beautiful spots in all of Freya! With the festival approaching, the flowers must be in full bloom!"
"I didn't know you liked flowers."
"Is there anyone who dislikes flowers? Ah, do you perhaps dislike them?"
"I don't dislike them."
Though I wasn't one to exclaim as dramatically as Xenon.
"I thought as much. I've never seen anyone frown upon receiving a bouquet."
"That's a narrow perspective."
"Surely not! The only people who don't smile when receiving flowers must be those with flower allergies, don't you think?"
It was a moment when disliking flowers would have made me a traitor to humanity. At least Xenon seemed to genuinely love flowers. I knew he possessed a rather unique sensibility, but still.
Instead of agreeing with him, I gave an ambiguous nod. For some reason, he was excited, gesturing at the air as he continued his explanation.
"Flowers made from water droplets are incredibly beautiful. It's such a pity I can't show them to you."
"How do you make flowers from water droplets?"
"How? With magic, of course. Light works too. Though that's best viewed at night."
"...Why waste precious magical power on something like that?"
At my genuinely puzzled reaction, Xenon gave me a deflated look.
"I learned magic precisely to do things like this."
"You're joking?"
"No, I'm serious."
I found myself staring at Xenon with my mouth open. Yet his eyes were infinitely sincere.
[That weak male started practicing drawing flowers in the air the moment he learned to handle magical power.]
Neshi, unable to listen any longer, testified to this shocking anecdote.
Good heavens, he really learned magic just to create flowers? Is he insane?
"Then what magic does Lady Anelli consider not wasteful of magical power?"
"...Attack magic, defensive magic, or practical things like warp or transformation magic?"
Magical power was something one was born with, so becoming a mage was no easy feat. To study at the Magic Tower, one needed minimum talent, and this talent was determined by the state of magical power inherent in one's body.
Even if you passed the Magic Tower's minimum requirements, the level you could reach depended on your growth rate.
As you ascended higher floors, you were recognized as a mage with greater magical power and higher rank.
That was why countless people who trained their entire lives never reached the top floor of the Magic Tower.
The Tower was filled with mages who dedicated their lives to study—and one of them learned magic to make flowers bloom? Not to develop grand large-scale spells or to reach the Tower's pinnacle?
"I thought Magic Tower mages were all obsessed with research."
"Do you think the Tower is a place where you just succeed if you're good at research?"
Xenon replied indifferently, turning his head. Seeing him pout, he seemed hurt by my reaction again.
Anyway, he gets sulky at the slightest provocation. No wonder Neshi always calls him a fragile male.
"I think motives can be diverse. I wasn't trying to mock you specifically."
"I know. You just couldn't understand."
Xenon clicked his tongue and gazed into the distance, shrugging as he continued.
"I wanted to give someone flowers, but discovered they had a flower allergy. Then I happened to learn I had magical talent, so I tried to create the world's one and only beautiful flower through magic."
"Glad you learned to make them, then. Did you give the gift well?"
He fell silent at my words. Then he subtly changed the subject.
"Lady Anelli must have received many different bouquets."
It was the first time Xenon had so openly deflected a conversation.
His reaction, clearly avoiding a private matter, left me with a strange feeling.
No, of course. Anyone would hesitate to share their personal stories with just anyone. It was a natural reaction—there was no reason to feel anything about it.
I shifted my gaze forward and replied calmly.
"Yes."
"I heard nobles plant all sorts of expensive flowers in their gardens and rip them all out after just one season. Is that true?"
"Some did do that."
"Must be nice having so much money that even that means nothing."
"Well, I suppose so."
After my answer, an awkward silence settled between us.
Perhaps I was the only one who found it awkward. I didn't even know why it was awkward. My stomach just felt a bit uncomfortable. Not knowing the reason, I couldn't find an appropriate response.
We continued with our awkwardly interrupted conversation for a while until the sign for Oel Flower Farm finally came into view.
The main gate was firmly locked. There was no guard, so entering wasn't difficult.
"We should separate from here. I have business to attend to, so look around."
I urged Nadav forward, leaving Xenon who nodded in understanding.
Upon passing the farm entrance, Zigor began fidgeting as if eager to fly. He had detected something. Unlike with Tristan's case, this time he seemed certain.
[It's definitely here! But something feels unstable...]
"Unstable?"
[Yes. The energy is fluctuating wildly and shaking precariously.]
"Is it dangerous?"
[You should be careful.]
At Zigor's warning, my body tensed automatically. I swallowed dryly and slowly surveyed my surroundings.
The scent of flowers rushed in from every direction. Flowers of every color bloomed in profusion, filling my vision. It was indeed worthy of being called one of Freya's famous spots. In different circumstances, I would have wanted to stroll leisurely through the flower fields.
Since the situation might require Nadav to revert to his true form at any moment, I decided to dismount and walk.
[Don't worry! Even though I can't return to my true form, Nadav will risk his life to protect the Captain!]
Zigor arbitrarily pledged Nadav's life. Nadav didn't protest, but I disliked him offering someone else's life.
It would be best not to get into danger in the first place.
I fingered the bracelet on my wrist. It was a physical attack shield—I didn't know how effective it would be, but it was better than nothing.
The flower farm was quiet. Only the sound of leaves rustling in the occasional breeze could be heard.
"Strange."
With so many flowers in full bloom, there were no butterflies or bees. No matter how intently I listened, I couldn't hear any insects chirping.
Was this because of the Dullahan? Did insects fear monsters? I had thought insects didn't fear monsters since the Queen Hornet Bee was charmed by Tristan, but perhaps I was wrong.
As I continued forward with a puzzled frown, the end came into view. Naturally—the farm had limited grounds, no matter how large.
I had expected to find something in the flower fields, but at least outdoors it was peaceful and quiet.
Then was it inside the farm building? But the building looked too small for a Dullahan to enter.
Approaching the building, I noticed a greenhouse nearby that I hadn't seen from a distance. The building's entrance door was firmly locked.
"...."
I turned toward the greenhouse. Just as I thought Nadav, transformed into a horse, wouldn't be able to enter through the small door—
[I'll scout ahead!]
"On foot?"
[I'll run with all my might!]
I'm not heartless enough to command a bird with injured wings to scout on foot.
I left Nadav in front of the greenhouse and entered with Zigor perched on my shoulder. At that moment, Zigor shouted excitedly that someone was there.
"Are you sure it's a knight?"
[Yes! Huh? Wait, it suddenly disappeared!]
"Disappeared?"
When just moments ago it had shown such a strong presence at the entrance. You mean it can vanish in an instant?
[Yes! It's gone...]
Zigor looked around confusedly. His fidgeting suggested he wanted to move freely, so I set him down on the ground.
Zigor began scampering around the greenhouse, examining various spots. I also started surveying my surroundings.
While the outdoor flowers were of relatively uniform height, the plants inside the greenhouse grew at all different levels. This made it difficult to see everything just by turning my head.
"If the presence disappeared, that means it transformed, right?"
[Probably! A true form's presence cannot be hidden, but we don't know what happens when transformed!]
So the worst case scenario was that it could have become an ant.
"Dullahan!"
I called out cautiously, but received no answer.
"Twelve Knights of the Round Table!"
Still, the greenhouse remained silent.
"Headless Knight! Knight searching for your lost head!"
No matter what I said, the result was the same. Normally Dullahans would recognize me as their Captain and approach on their own, so I couldn't understand why this one was hiding so stubbornly.
Had it already left the greenhouse?
"Zigor, it seems like it already..."
I was turning back to Zigor when I suddenly stopped. I had detected a faint sound coming through the dense vegetation.
"Sob... sob sob..."
An extremely small crying sound could be heard. As I began walking carefully toward the sound, the crying grew louder.
"Hic..."
Even though it was a stifled sound, it was filled with deep sorrow. It was crying that chilled the atmosphere despite being in a bright greenhouse full of beautiful flowers.
The sound came from deep inside the greenhouse, behind dense rubber trees with thick green leaves.
I approached quietly, peeking around the leaves with my bracelet ready to activate at any moment.
"Sob, hic, sob... Sob?"
Through the flower pots, I saw a huddled figure. Curled up with knees drawn close... it was a woman. Upon noticing my presence, the crying stopped.
And I also stopped breathing.
The woman had no head.
"C-Captain?"
"Uh..."
For a Dullahan, well... she wasn't armored and didn't radiate that aura. She just looked like an ordinary person. If she'd had a head, I would have been less startled.
"Hic, no!"
The woman suddenly sprang to her feet. Then she abruptly turned and tried to flee. But that was a dead end...!
CRASH!
The greenhouse wall broke as the woman charged through with her entire body. I stared blankly at the fleeing, crying woman before belatedly snapping to my senses and shouting.
"Wait just a moment!"
What in the world is happening now!